St. Paul daily globe., 1887-09-10
COMMISSIONERS TALK BACK.
The Railway Commission Is Evil
dentdy Tired of Being Roasted.


IDENTIFY Tired of Being Roasted.
E Some people who thought they had
grievances against the state railroad
commission have been sending in pretty
warmly-wOrded ''roasts" ON those Off
ciafS of late. The commission has evil
IDENTITY come to the conclusion that it is
time to give some of those who are in
clfhed t0 talk too freely, return shot,
and accordingly they gave out the
tsopen letter" given below, which, they
say, will apply to large number who
have been contributing to their stock of
mail of late. The commission says:
Dear Sir: In acknowledging the receipt of
your letter Of she Sd inst, relating to the
action Of this commission, looking to the re-
ddetion of the railroad charges on small
packages or parcels, we feel constrained to
refer also to yours of the 18th ult., in which
you make, as it seems TO u.s. some unealled-
for, unjust and ill-tempered comments
Coupled with threat upon condition) as to
the commission and its method of doing
q business.
We have found in the practice of the board
that to furnish the carrier the complaint of
the shipper or conSignee, andin turn to serve
copy Of the carriers answer upon the COM
? plainant, serves to reveal to each the others
exact position and to clear up many mis-
understanding. There are many complaints
sent to us, with the evident understanding
on the part of those making them, that their
duty in the matter ends with the complaint
that ills ours TO adopt their views of both
the facts and the law of the case, and to sum-
maPiiy redress their alleged wrongs, without
a'hearing and without delay. But the com
mission does not take that view or its duties
Il AS THEY INTERPRET THE LAW,
the right of the company complained of to be
Informed of the complaint to present its
answer and have the same considered. is as
positive and as undeniable @ right as the
right Of complaint itself. We are aware that
we have certain powers in connection with
our Official duties, powers not strictly judic-
1al, which the law contemplated may be ex
creased, and which we have on several
occasions exercised, without the intercession
of complaint and answer. But the exercise
of such powers is not involved in the ascer-
tainment Of the truth of charges that may be
disputed, qualified or justified. In all such
cases we feel bound to observe the rules of
procedure in our courts of justice, without
regard to the displeasure ana impatience of
the plaintiff that the defendant is not con-
demded and executed without hearing
The remark which you assume to quote
rejecting upon the character and the cast of
the commission, may be founded upon an
ignorance of the amount of the labor really
performed by 1t, and the extent of its useful
ness, as dense as was yours of the necessary
method of procedure. Still we do not intend
to deny the right, so dear to the heart
OF every American citizen, to criti-
else and condemn unheard, every public
omcer We accepted Office with that under
standing, and SO have no reason to complain,
but patiently rest upon the hope ard expec-
tation that results will eventually vindicate
both the purposes and the usefulness of the
commission. Whether one man more shall
join the ranks of our traducers, as YOU
threaten TO do If your views are not adopted,
concerns as but little. So we trust that you
will not iatter yourself that the action of the
commission in requiring the railroad COM
paliies to show good cause as a condition of
Continuing the practice of which Won COM
plain. is the result of your taking us TO task,
for the same question has been raised by
many other parties, and our course as well as
the final result, whatever that may be, would
nave peen the same naQ you never be ~.
However. we promise that your pres
plaint as well as any other which u !;
In the future see tit to present. sh. .e
prompt and impartial consideration con-
formable to the law and the established rules
of procedure.